Cutter mechanism for harvesters.



L. T. VELEN.

GUTTER MECHANISM FOR HARVESTERS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19, 1906.

957,280. Patented May 10, 1910.

V 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. T. VELEN.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HARVESTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1908.

57 2 0 Patented May 10, 1910.

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wit" woes noemtoz L. T. VELEN. CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HARVESTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1908.

957,280. Patented May 10, 1910.

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1 mm @2 m 0M1 gvwanfoz L. T. VELEN.

CUTTER MEGHANISM r011 HARVESTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1908,

957,280. Y Patented May 10,1910.

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a 1. :i 1 R if Mig j Wi in oozes UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQFQ.

LUTHER THEODORE VELEN, OF CLEBURNE, KANSAS.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HARVESTERS.

Original application filed November 1, 1907, Serial No. 400,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER T. VELEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleburne, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Cutter Mechanism for Harvesters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to cutter mech anisms for harvesters, and itconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, ashereinafter shown and described.

The subject matter of the present invention is divided out of my priorapplication for Patent in the United States for harvesters, filedNovember 1th, 1907, Serial No. 400,553.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for slightlybending the stalks away from the cutting-knife, so that tensional strainis exerted on that side of the stalk which is first engaged by theknife, in order to lessen the work of the latter. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofcutting mechanism, and to provide for the division of the stalks, inorder that they may be more readily and uniformly acted upon by thecutters.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor depressing the weeds or other small growths in advance of thecut-ting knives, in order to. prevent the operation of the latter on anymaterial other than the corn stalks.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved formof cutting knife, and to employ means whereby the stal is may be bentinward toward the frame as the severing operation progresses, and thuskeep the knife clear of the stalks.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of thecutting mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view out on the line,22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the cuttingmechanism, showing the parts in sections. Fig. 4; is a detailedperspective view looking at one of the rear corners of the frame, andshowing one of the inner cutters and its associated mechanism. Fig. 5 isa detailed plan view of one of the cutters and weed-depressor. Fig. 6 isa transverse sectional view of the same, cut on the line 66 of Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the auxiliary stationarycutter, detached. Fig. 8 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916. Divided and this application filed August SerialNo. 449,331.

a similar view of the weed-depressing plate. Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthe mechanism for feeding the stalks inward after the cutting operation.Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view of the inner cutters and their carryingbar. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the outer cutters. Fig. 12 is asectional plan view taken in the plane below the cutter, and showing theweed-depressor. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of the partsshown in Fig. 12, out upon the line 13-13 thereof, and Fig. let is asectional view of the outer cutter, and weed-depressor, illustrating themanner of operation of the said parts.

The beams 1, form a portion of the frame work of the harvester or theother imple ment to which the cutting apparatus is applied, and the saidbeams are provided at intermediate points with the arched portions 2.The bearings 8, are fixed to the under sides of the arched portions 2,of the beams 1, in which is journaled the axle, 4, of the machine; thisaxle is provided at its ends with the spindles 5, upon which thetraction wheels 6, are mounted. The axle 4, has a centrally disposedarch 7, located between the bearings 3, and at a point outside of eachof the said bearings 3, the axle is turned down, forming an arm, 8,which is then bent outward to form a sleeve 9, that is disposed at aslight angle to the horizontal, the outer end being lowermost, and tothe outer end of each sleeve portion 9, is secured a solid disk 10, theinner face of which bears against the inner side of the traction wheel6. At the juncture of the ends of the arch 7 with the main cylindricalportions of the axle 3, the latter has a pair of alined journal bearings11, having removable cap pieces 12, and arranged for the reception ofthe reduced end portion of a horizontally disposed shaft 13. On thisshaft are pivoted two hangers 1a, the lower ends of which form bearingsfor the inner ends of a pair of shafts 15, that extend through thesleeves 9, of the axle, and are provided at their outer ends with thepinions 16, that mesh with the internal annular racks 17, formed in theinner faces of the ground wheels 6, and as the said ground wheelsrotate, movement is imparted from the racks 17 to the pinions 16, andthence to the shafts 15.

At the inner ends of the shafts 15, are located the pinions 18, thatintermesh with a pair of gear wheels 19, of equal diameter. The gearwheels 19, are loosely mounted upon the shaft 13, and to each said gearwheel is secured a beveled gear 20, forming part of a compensating gear;the teeth of the two beveled gears 20, face each other and areintermeshed with intermediate beveled pinions 21, of which there may beany desired number.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 13, is the hub of a disk 22, the web ofwhich is cut away at intervals to form openings for the passage of thebeveled pinions 21, and the carrying shafts of these pinions are mountedin bearings formed in the disk.

The periphery of the disk 22, is provided with a zig-zag cam groove 23,and further carries a gear wheel 24, which may inter mesh with a pinion,(not shown) or other means whereby movement may be transmitted from thesaid disk to other moving parts of the machine, upon which the cuttingapparatus is mounted.

The compensating gearing which connects the two shafts 15, operate inthe usual manner to permit the turning of either traction wheel fasteror slower than the other one, without interfering with the operation ofthe other portions of the machine which depend on this gearing formovement.

The present mechanism is designed for simultaneously cutting four rowsof corn, and, for convenience, the outermost rows are cut by relativelystationary knives, while the innermost rows are cut by knives thatreciprocate in a plane transversely of the length of the rows, and thesereciprocatory knives are provided with saw-teeth edges, in order torender the cutting operation more effective.

The two reciprocatory cutting blades 25, are carried by the oppositeends of a transversely disposed bar 26, the central portion of which isslightly depressed to pass under the compensating gear of the shaft 13,and at the central portion of the bars is an angularly disposed lugcarrying an anti-friction roller 27, that enters the zigzag cam groove23, of the disk 22, so that as the latter is rotated the cutter-bar isreciprocated.

Secured to the sleeve portion 9, of the axle 3, is a plate 28, thatextends forward from the axle in a horizontal plane and receives thebutt ends of the stalks from the inner rows, there being two of suchplates, one at each side of the machine. One edge of the plate isslightly spaced from the adjacent side bar of the frame of the machine,forming a recess into which the row of corn is guided, and the cutter isdisposed at the base of this recess, so as to sever the stalks inconsecutive order. The cutting blade is secured to the carrying bar andis arranged in the plane immediately above the plate 28, while the baris, in part, guided by a small plate 29, that is secured to the plate28, to the rear of the blade. The blade is provided with angularlydisposed ends which are tapered to form cutting edges, 30, which coacton one side with a stationary guard-plate 31, carried by the plate 28,and on the opposite side with a similar plate (not shown) that may becarried by a vertical plate or guard 33, bolted or otherwise secured tothe plate 28, and serving as a closure for the arched portion 2, of thebeam 1, so that the stalks cannot pass through the arch after being cutby the cutting knives.

In addition to the reciprocatory cutter. auxiliary stationary cuttingblades 341, are employed. Each of these blades is in the form of arightangled triangle, that edge which forms the hypotenuse beingprovided with saw-teeth 35, for a portion of its length, and a beveledcutting edge 36, for the remaining portion, while at the rear end of theblade are auxiliary cutting-teeth 3?, which co-act with the saw teeth ofthe main blade in case any stalks, grass or weeds should enter thetriangular space between the stationary and the reciprocatory blades.

The auxiliary stationary blades 3%, are intended to sever, or partiallysever, any stalks which are not directed into contact with thereciprocatory knife, and they may be omitted, if desired.

In order to divide the work of the knife, a fixed prong 38, is securedto the plate 28, and projects forward under the cutting blade, saidprong having a roller 39, at its forward end, and serving to direct thestalks of corn to one or other sides, and in a measure distribute thework along the entire length of the blade.

The lower edge of the vertical plate 33, is provided with an inwardlyextending flange 40, and depending from the plate 28, is a flanged strip41. These flanges serve as a support for a weed depressing plate e2,that extends in advance of the knives, and operates to depress any weedsor grass, although it will yield rearwardly when brought into contactwith the stalks of corn, owing to the greater resistance afforded by thelatter. Depending from the lower face of the rear portion of the plate42, is a pin 43, having a disk-shaped lower end that enters acylindrical casing 14, and is en gaged by a helical compression spring4-5. that tends to hold the plate in its forward position. The spring isof suflicient strength to resist movement of the plate when brought intocontact with any material lighter than cornstalks, but when engaged bythe latter the spring will yield to permit rearward movement of theplate.

Secured to the rear edge of the plate 28, is a vertically disposedbutt-plate 46, against which the butt end of the stalks strikeafterpassing the cutting blade, and from the top of the butt-plate projects aforwardly extending guard 47, that prevents the stalks from jumpingupward. As the stalks fall down on the plate 28, with their buttsagainst the plate 46, it becomes necessary to shift them laterally, inorder to clear the space to the rear of the knife. For this purpose afeed-pawl 48, is pivoted at one end of a reciprocatory bar 49, the pawlat one end co-acting with one of the plates 28, and the pawl at theopposite end co-acting with the other said plate. The ends of the bar49, project through openings formed in the plates 33, and said plateshave vertical recesses 50, so that on the inward movement of a pawl itwill pass wholly beyond the plates As the pawl-carrying bar isreciprocated, the stalks lying on the plate 28, are fed away from theplane of the knife and are moved beyond the retaining pawl 51, that ispivoted to the forward edge of the guard plate 47, so that the stalkscannot move back as the feeding pawl is retracted.

The central portion of the bar 49 is bent into U shape, in order to passunder the compensating gearing carried by the shaft 13, and the said baris mounted in guiding brackets or hangers, 52, that are carried by themain axle or shaft 3.

On the shaft 13, is a worm 53, that meshes with a worm-wheel 54, that issecured to the upper end of a crank-shaft 55, mounted in a bracket 56,projecting from one of the hangers, 14. At the lower end of this shaftis a crank 57, carrying a pin, which enters a yoke 58, that is carriedby the bar 49, this mechanism serving to transmit the reciprocatorymovement to the pawl bar.

The two inner rows of corn are directed into the space between the plate28 and the side bar 1. As the corn in some instances will be bent orblown down, it becomes necessary to provide for causing the stalks toassume a proper position before they engage with the cutting blade, and,for this purpose, an endless belt 60, having lifting fingers 61, isarranged at one side of each of the passages.

The outer cutters 62, are carried at the outer ends of the bars 63, theinner ends of said bars being rigidly secured to the shafts 64. The bars63, are bent in the manner shown, in order tovclear the ground wheels 6,and to present the outer arms of the bars in the vertical plane of theaxis of the ground wheels. To the outer end of each bar 63 is secured aU shaped bar 64, by

means of a securing bolt 65.

The cutting blade and the butt deflector 66, are secured at one end to avertically disposed plate 67, by a bolt 68. The cutting blade 66 isarranged approximately at an angle of 45 degrees to the longitudinalaxis of'the machine, and the deflector 66,

that is above the ground is formed of a section of a. hollow sphere,being curved transversely in the direction of its length, so as to forma curved pocket that will receive the butts of the stalks, and deflectthe same laterally to the bar 63. The blade is furthermore slightlyinclined to the horizontal, be ing highest at its outer edge, so thatthe stalks will tend to ride down the blade and deflector by gravity.This arrangement furthermore facilitates the cutting of the stalks, thelatter being placed under the strain in the manner herein described, andthe cutting being accomplished by a line oblique to the length of thestalk.

Arranged below the cutting blade is a plate 69, that is inclined in thesame direction as the blade, and is provided at its opposite sides withvertical flanges 70, that are secured in any suitable manner to thevertical arms of the U shaped bar 64. This plate serves as a guide andsupport for a weed depressor 71, that projects forward to the cuttingedge of the blade, and is provided with a plurality of notches 72,against the walls of which the stalks may engage prior to the cuttingoperation.

The weed-depressing plate 71, carries a flanged guide or casing 73, forthe reception of a helical compression spring 74, the rear end of whichis guided by a rod 75, that projects from a flange on the rear end ofthe plate 69. This spring tends to force the weed depressor forward, andmovement in this direction is limited by the engagement of a lug 76, onthe plate, with a stop flange 77, carried by the plate 69. The strengthof the spring is sufficient to hold the weed-depressing plate forwardwhen the latter is in engagement with weeds, grass or similar growth, sothat the latter may not come in contact with the cutting blade. When theweed depressing plate is engaged by a cornstalk, the plate will beforced forward and the stalk will be severed, its butt swinging againstthe curved deflector 66, and being guided on to the blade-carrying bar62.

Thus it will be seen that mechanism is provided for operatingsimultaneously upon four different rows of stalks.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is 2- 1. The combination with a cutter, of means forguiding the stalks thereto, means for reciprocating the cutter, astationary guiding tongue for distributing stalks along the length ofthe cutter and a growth depressor located below the cutter.

2. In combination, a reciprocatory cutter, a guiding channel throughwhich the stalks are directed against the cutter, a stationary guidingtongue by which the stalks are distributed along the length of thecutter, a sta tionary auxiliary cutter arranged at the end of thechannel and slightly in advance of the reciprocatory cutter and a growthdepressor located below the cutter.

3. In combination, a reciprocatory cutter,

a channel through which the stalks are guided against said cutter, and ayieldably mounted weed depressor arranged under the cutter.

4. In combination, a cutting blade, a weed-depressing plate arrangedunder the blade and serving to depress small growth, said depressorbeing yieldable to permit the blade to engage the corn-stalks.

5. In combination, a cutter blade, a weeddepressing plate arranged underthe blade, and a spring forming a bearing for the depressor, said springbeing yieldable to permit corn-stalks to come in contact with the blade.

6. In combination, a cutting blade, a supporting plate upon which thestalks pass after cutting, a butt-plate against which the stalks strikeand a guard-plate to prevent the upward movement of the stalks.

7. In combination, a cutting blade, a supporting plate upon which thestalks pass after the cutting operation, a reciprocatory feeding memberfor moving the stalks laterally and a retaining pawl for engaging andholding the stalks from return movement.

8. In combination, a cutting blade, a supporting plate upon which thestalks pass after cutting operation, a butt-plate against which thestalks strike, a guard-plate, a reciprocatory feeding finger for movingthe stalks laterally from the butt-plate, and a retaining pawl or fingerpivoted to the guard-plate and arranged to hold the stalks from returnmovement.

9. In combination, a main frame, a cutter, and a spring presseddepressor arranged in front of said cutter and adapted to move rearwardunder the cutter when brought into engagement with a stalk.

10. In combination, a cutting knife, and a yieldable depressor guidedfor bodily rearward movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' LUTHER THEODORE VELEN. lVitnesses C. A. G. SUNDsrRoM, ADoLrBERGHEIMER.

